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If Ubisoft are good at one thing, its innovation. Assassin's Creed was a stellar hit in 2007 for advancing the action-adventure genre in a way that is exclusive to the franchise. It introduced us to a unique traversal system, and a more realistic combat mechanic. Likewise, the mark & execute and cover system mechanics from Splinter Cell Conviction have been used in other Tom Clancy hits, and will be reused in the upcoming Ghost Recon Wildlands video game.

Yet, Ubisoft still manage to bring another innovative idea to life with For Honor. A game where players are put in the driving seat of some of the most well renowned warriors of the Middle Ages -- and it is fantastic. . . eh, in terms of gameplay, at least.

While it does tread on familiar ground (Assassin's Creed II), it still feels like a breath of fresh air. The basic fundamentals such as using the Left Trigger to lock-on to your opponent, (Y) to taunt your opponent, and (A) to quickstep or dodge your opponent are all the same. I'm obviously citing Xbox One controls here. You can even break your opponent's defensive stance to gain the advantage in clutch moments of a battle. However, the complexity has been dialled to 11. It takes a lot more precise and reactive capabilities than your average swordplay game. Put it this way, there are 12 different class of heroes to choose from, each with their own unique set of strengths and weaknesses, so the game almost forces you to study your opponent's fighting pattern and devise your own strategy to become victorious. The system is extremely well balanced to the point where it doesn't matter which class of faction is used, its dependant on skill and skill alone. It makes it extremely satisfying when you overwhelm your opponent, and your victory feels like a reward on its own.

Aside from its addictive gameplay, the customization is another thing that keeps me active. As you build your warrior's reputation, you unlock better armour and weapons that boosts your stats, and give your warrior a more distinguished look with cosmetic add-ons such as unique paintings, symbols and engravings. There's nothing more satisfying than charging into the battlefield with a shoulder plate engraving or symbol that makes the statement: I am a formidable champion!

Unfortunately, that's where the game peaks. There are a number of discerning issues that have come to my attention since I bought the game 2 weeks ago. For starters, the servers are still unforgivably broken. Peer to peer connectivity is one of the most unreliable connections to hit multiplayer. I can't even count the number of times servers have dropped out either before a match starts or during a match. The multiplayer as a whole feels broken, and has been one of the prominent reasons for my raging with this game.

Secondly, the campaign is complete garbage. To put it bluntly, its a tutorial. You'd only play through the campaign if you'd want to familiarize yourself with the different class of heroes. If you're looking for any shred of an emotional piece, you'd be void of all hope. Which is largely disappointing since Ubisoft have made some of my favourite games in the past decade with some of the best stories to hit the video game community.

Lastly the game modes in multiplayer, at this point in time--2017--are just unoriginal. Dominion is another zone capturing mode. Brawl is a 2v2 deathmatch. Duel is a 1v1 deathmatch. Skirmish is a 4v4 deathmatch. Elimination is a 1v1 or 4v4 deathmatch depending on how dishonourable your team or the opponents team is. Can you get anymore generic? I'm pretty sure I played those modes on Battlefield 1 already.

In conclusion, I'm glad I traded in two games to drag this price from $99.95 to $40. With this many technical issues, a disappointing campaign, and an unoriginal set of game modes, I feel comfortable giving this game a 5 out of 10. The only thing that attracts me is the unique combat system, and the customization. Make a note that it is possible that Ubisoft will release new content, and fix up its server problems further along down the line, but as a person expected to pay almost $100 for an unfinished game, I have to draw the line. I would not recommend this game to anyone.

Peace out!